Bernie Sanders on gun violence prevention

Floridatexan wrote:
Here is the very sad truth: it is very difficult for the American people to keep up with the mass shootings we seem to see every day in the news. Yesterday, San Bernardino. Last week, Colorado Springs. Last month, Colorado Springs again. Newtown, Aurora, Tucson, Isla Vista, Virginia Tech, Navy Yard, Roseburg, and far too many others.

The crisis of gun violence has reached epidemic levels in this country to the point that we are averaging more than one mass shooting per day. Now, I am going to tell you something that most candidates wouldn’t say: I am not sure there is a magical answer to how we end gun violence in America. But I do know that while thoughts and prayers are important, they are insufficient and it is long past time for action.

That’s why I want to talk to you today about a few concrete actions we should take as a country that will save lives.

Add your name in support of the following commonsense measures Congress can take to make our communities safer from gun violence.

1. We can expand background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the dangerously mentally ill. This is an idea that over 80% of Americans agree with, even a majority of gun owners.

2. & 3. We can renew the assault weapons ban and end the sale of high capacity magazines — military-style tools created for the purpose of killing people as efficiently as possible.

4. Since 2004, over 2,000 people on the FBI’s terrorist watch list have legally purchased guns in the United States. Let’s close the “terror gap” and make sure known foreign and domestic terrorists are included on prohibited purchaser lists.

5. We can close loopholes in our laws that allow perpetrators of stalking and dating violence to buy guns. In the United States, the intended targets of a majority of our mass shootings are intimate partners or family members, and over 60% of victims are women and children. Indeed, a woman is five times more likely to die in a domestic violence incident when a gun is present.

6. We should close the loophole that allows prohibited purchasers to buy a gun without a completed background check after a three-day waiting period expires. Earlier this year, Dylann Roof shot and killed nine of our fellow Americans while they prayed in a historic church, simply because of the color of their skin. This act of terror was possible because of loopholes in our background check laws. Congress should act to ensure the standard for ALL gun purchases is a completed background check. No check — no sale.

7. It’s time to pass federal gun trafficking laws. I support Kirsten Gillibrand’s Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking & Crime Prevention Act of 2015, which would “make gun trafficking a federal crime and provide tools to law enforcement to get illegal guns off the streets and away from criminal networks and street gangs.”

8. It’s time to strengthen penalties for straw purchasers who buy guns from licensed dealers on behalf of a prohibited purchaser.

9. We must authorize resources for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study and research the causes and effects of gun violence in the United States of America.

10. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are over 21,000 firearm suicides every year in the United States. It’s time we expand and improve our mental health capabilities in this country so that people who need care can get care when they need it, regardless of their level of income.

Add your name in support of these commonsense measures Congress can take to make our communities safer from gun violence.

Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted against non-binding legislation to expand background checks, close the “terror gap,” and improve our mental health systems. I voted for all three, although each of them came up short.

They failed for the same reason the bipartisan Manchin-Toomey legislation failed in 2013, just months after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School: because of the financial political power of a gun lobby that has bought candidates and elections for the better part of the last several decades.

In 2014 alone, the gun lobby spent over $30 million on political advertising and lobbying to influence legislators in Congress and state capitals across the country. And just last month, it was reported that the Koch brothers made a $5 million contribution to the NRA.

Americans of all political stripes agree. It's time to address the all too common scene of our neighbors being killed. It's time to pass a common sense package of gun safety legislation.

With your help, that's what we’ll do when I’m president.

In solidarity,

Bernie Sanders

SIGN OUR PETITION

https://go.berniesanders.com/page/s/gun-violence-prevention?source=em151203

TEOTWAWKI wrote:

TEOTWAWKI wrote:

Floridatexan wrote:


1. We can expand background checks to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and the dangerously mentally ill. This is an idea that over 80% of Americans agree with, even a majority of gun owners.

So if I want to sell a hunting rifle to my brother-in-law, neighbor, etc ... I have to go to a gun dealer & pay for a background check & transfer paperwork?    Not too expensive now .... but liberals will surely be upping the price of doing this to something much more exorbitant.

What if I want to gift a firearm to my daughter for self-defense or to some favored nephew who enjoys hunting?   Will I have to go through all this rigamarole?

How about if I loan someone I know a gun to go hunting or whatever with.  What would be your provisions for this?



2. & 3. We can renew the assault weapons ban and end the sale of high capacity magazines — military-style tools created for the purpose of killing people as efficiently as possible.

Oh?   How many shots do you think someone might need for whatever situation.   Sometimes you miss, you know.   Sometimes you may have multiple assailants to contend with ... such as in a home invasion situations.  And, god-forbid ... what if we someday need to defend ourselves from an oppressive government established via a coup.  (Never say it couldn't happen here.) 

And then there's some people into sport/target shooting just enjoy being able to pop off 30 rounds at once.

Also, as to magazine capacity .... do you know how quickly a magazine can be changed?  Less than 2 seconds.   Doubt this idea would really prevent anything at all.   You think a rampage shooter is going to change his mind because he only has access to a 9 round magazine instead of a 30 round magazine.  You think it's going to change the outcome any at all really?  

It's a feel-good idea ... that's all.

(Oh, an 10+ round capacity magazines are illegal in California ... lotta good that ban did)




4. Since 2004, over 2,000 people on the FBI’s terrorist watch list have legally purchased guns in the United States. Let’s close the “terror gap” and make sure known foreign and domestic terrorists are included on prohibited
purchaser lists.

A lot of people on the "watch list" are not known to be terrorists ... they are suspected.   There is not due process, no appeal rights, nothing.   Future administrations could create "watch lists" for anything they please .... how 'bout that good ole boy with a rebel flag sticker on the bumper of his truck ..... they could put him on a "watch" list & take away his guns.   Or how about somebody involved with PETA or some other save the trees/animals organization?   Some of those have been involved with incidents that could be called terrorism.   How about for just posting something politically incorrect on this very forum .... perhaps the FBI of some future administration could consider that subversive & put you on a "watch list" & take away your 2nd Amendment rights with no involvement of the judiciary, no due process, no appeal right.   I could cite a lot of other potential future circumstances in which someone could be put on a "watch" list depending on the leanings of whatever administration is in charge of the US Government at a particular point in time.   If you're gonna talk about taking away someone's Constitutional right ... there needs to be due process,a judicial process, right to face your accuser, appeal rights,  etc etc.   The Bill of Rights is pretty damn important to me .... I don't think the government should be taking away any of the rights protected therein lightly.





5. We can close loopholes in our laws that allow perpetrators of stalking and dating violence to buy guns. In the United States, the intended targets of a majority of our mass shootings are intimate partners or family members, and over 60% of victims are women and children. Indeed, a woman is five times more likely to die in a domestic violence incident when a gun is present.

Already exists.   Those convicted of domestic violence offenses (even misdemeanosr) are prohibited from possession a firearm.   Did you know that?

As to protective orders .... there are provisions for that also, but you have to go to court & the person being prohibited has to be notified of the hearing and allowed to attend the hearing to defend their 2nd Amendment right.



6. We should close the loophole that allows prohibited purchasers to buy a gun without a completed background check after a three-day waiting period expires. Earlier this year, Dylann Roof shot and killed nine of our fellow Americans while they prayed in a historic church, simply because of the color of their skin. This act of terror was possible because of loopholes in our background check laws. Congress should act to ensure the standard for ALL gun purchases is a completed background check. No check — no sale.


Maybe instead the Federal government needs to fix the NICS background check system so an instant result can be obtained 24/7/365.    If my credit card company can approve my purchase almost instantaneously at 2 a.m. on a Sunday which is also a Federal holiday at a rural gas station in bumf*k, Wyoming ... no reason the Federal government shouldn't be able to do the same?


7. It’s time to pass federal gun trafficking laws. I support Kirsten Gillibrand’s Hadiya Pendleton and Nyasia Pryear-Yard Gun Trafficking & Crime Prevention Act of 2015, which would “make gun trafficking a federal crime and provide tools to law enforcement to get illegal guns off the streets and away from criminal networks and street gangs.”

Not aware of this particular legislation .... but we already have plenty of Federal gun trafficking laws.   How do I know? ..... I have personally put quite a few people in prison for firearms trafficking related offenses.



8. It’s time to strengthen penalties for straw purchasers who buy guns from licensed dealers on behalf of a prohibited purchaser.


Not sure what the penalties currently are (up to 10 years for a straw purchase as i recall) .... but a lot of this problem has to do with opposition (much of it from the left) to mandatory sentencing laws



9. We must authorize resources for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study and research the causes and effects of gun violence in the United States of America.


Silly.  Gun violence is not a disease.   Big waste of taxpayers money.  Let some grad student do the research for his/her thesis.


10. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are over 21,000 firearm suicides every year in the United States. It’s time we expand and improve our mental health capabilities in this country so that people who need care can get care when they need it, regardless of their level of income.

Okay.   Good luck with that from a funding perspective.

In any case ... the biggest problem with mental health treatment in this country is not so much availability as it is that it's so difficult to force people into treatment anymore and keep them going to treatment.   I know this from discussions with my sister who is a Psychiatrist and has worked in community mental health settings and jails.   Seems the only thing that motivates a lot of people to keep coming in for treatment is to keep their disability checks; to meet some probation requirement; or to try & score certain pharmaceuticals that are sellable on the street. [/i] 

I have no doubt Bernie Sanders is a well-intentioned guy ... but fact is, he's pretty danged naive.

2seaoat wrote:A democratic socialist... like bernie.

Nope......Orwellian doublethink. Too funny that somebody thinks they can put a label on themselves or others which says superman, and that label makes the person superman.......that is not how it works. Political concepts are defined by platforms, policies, and actions, not labels. Hitler was a fascist.